Primarily a collection of news links about all 10 Horizon League teams on a daily basis, culled from online newspapers, school athletic websites, the conference website, and school newspapers, plus some other content from time to time.

Monday, March 7, 2011

News On The Horizon 3/7/2011

His team will decide its fate in the Horizon League Tournament and has advanced to the second round in large (okay, all) part to Norris Cole, a 6′1″ senior guard. Not only does he have an awesome name, he’s got serious NBA game. While he hasn’t been on TV much, he’s considered one of the top guard prospects in this year’s NBA draft and put up the most impressive stat lines of this college hoops season, with a 41 point, 20 rebound, 9 assist game against Youngstown State on February 12. We’re rooting for Norris to make it to the tourney, because if he does, his high-top fade and penchant for taking over games make him one Cinderella where the shoe could certainly fit. Projected as early second round (32nd) pick in this year’s draft, this is one player that certainly deserves one more chance to dance.

• Butler. The Bulldogs aren't a lock to make the field after Saturday's win over Cleveland State in the Horizon League semifinals, but they do now have four wins over top-50 RPI teams (Florida State and Cleveland State three times), and have closed the season on an eight-game win streak. I think they're in as a 12 seed, potentially in one of the Dayton "First Four" games. And if it does come down to Butler vs., say, Georgia for one of the last spots, you wonder if the fact that the Indy kids were in last year's title game and were darlings of last year's tournament will matter. The committee will certainly say it doesn't matter at all ... but you still wonder.

20 — This was Harris' number in high school — one that was retired by the Red Raiders in 2007. And Gordon Hayward's number was the one he thought of wearing after finding out Miles had his preferred digits. "Coming here, the first thing I was, 'Dang. C.J.'s got 34. G-Man's got 20. I don't know what I'm going to wear.'"

Thus, Utah continues on two fronts. One places the organization in the hands of talented veterans such as Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Devin Harris, who have yet to hit their prime and are playing under relatively affordable contracts. The other hints at instant rebuilding — 2010 lottery picks Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward have played key minutes for the Jazz in the past two weeks — while refusing to accept that the reset button has been fully pressed.